Inkjet Printer Head Cap Segmented Clamping Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink-jet printer head caps are prone to adhering to the nozzle surface due to ink residue, leading to potential detachment issues when forcibly removed, and existing solutions to prevent this often result in an oversized cap design.
Innovation Solution
A head cap design featuring a circular projection that surrounds the ejection area, a bottom plate portion, and a holder with fixing members that clamp the cap body to the holder, ensuring secure attachment without increasing the cap's size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a projection is fitted to the holder to prevent cap detachment, then the cap's reliability is improved, but the cap's size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cap is divided into two functional parts: a circular projection for sealing the nozzle surface and a bottom plate portion for attachment to the holder. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function efficiently without the need for additional protruding structures, maintaining compact overall dimensions while ensuring reliable attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment mechanism transitions from a lateral protruding projection to a bottom-mounted fixing member that engages with the holder from below. This dimensional change allows the cap to be secured to the holder without increasing the cap's external dimensions, resolving the contradiction between attachment reliability and compact size.
2Ease of operation
If the cap is forcedly separated from the nozzle surface, then the cap can be removed, but the cap may drop out from the holder
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting portion is designed to engage with the fixing member before any separation force is applied to the cap. This preliminary engagement ensures that when the cap is lifted for removal, the fixing member is simultaneously disengaged from the holder, preventing the cap from dropping out during the removal process.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap removal mechanism is designed to be dynamic and sequential: the lifting portion is pulled first, which then triggers the fixing member to release from the holder. This dynamic sequence ensures that the cap is always supported by either the holder or the lifting portion during removal, preventing accidental dropout while maintaining ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A head cap may comprise a cap body comprising a circular projection which is configured to surround a liquid droplet ejection area formed on an ejection surface of a liquid droplet ejection head by contacting with the ejection surface, and a bottom plate portion which is configured to define a depressed portion in cooperation with the circular projection and to which the circular projection is connected. The head cap may also comprise a holder which is configured to hold the bottom plate portion. The head cap may further comprise a fixing member which is configured to fix the cap body to the holder by being fitted to the holder via the bottom plate portion and disposed on a bottom surface of the depressed portion. The fixing member and the holder may clamp the bottom plate portion in the direction intersecting the direction of projection of the circular oroiection.